CHAPTER 248: HE WAS BEING CLINGY LATELY

Ella walked beside Adrian silently while scolding herself in her mind, ’He’s not even seducing me. So why am I already this seduced?’

When she looked at his chiseled side profile, Ella flinched and averted her gaze.

’Why is my body so hot?’ She took a small step to the side, worried that he would notice.

But in the next moment, he grabbed her hand and pulled her close, intertwining their fingers.

Ella’s heart raced louder than war drums. The sound thundered so loud in her ears, she worried he might hear it.

’Ella, oh Ella, stop acting like a horny, lovesick teenager!’

After endless inner monologues, they finally reached the condominium.

Ella pushed all the indecent thoughts to the back of her head and glanced at Adrian, "Baby, you can set them down in the kitchen. I’ll start prepping."

After freshening up and washing her face until she could no longer see any redness on it, Ella finally headed to the kitchen.

She rolled her sleeves up, pulling her hair into a messy bun instinctively...

But her fingers slipped through her short hair. Ella paused, her smile dimming slightly.

From the corner of her eyes, she spotted Adrian and suddenly, all the things that she had been hearing after coming back from Country A rushed back to her mind.

Be it the troubles going on in the Yu Family business or Esther’s broken engagement with Mo Jun.

"Did you really act against the Yu Family?" she couldn’t help but ask.

"Yes," Adrian did not try to deny it at all.

Ella lowered her gaze, "I won’t blame you for what you did... I know you did it for me. But in the future, don’t act against them anymore."

As she said that, she glanced at Adrian seriously.

She had no grudges against her parents, even till the point she cut her ties with them and for their sake, she let Esther go this time despite having grudges of two lives against her.

"If it’s needed, I’ll act on my own. You don’t need to do anything," Ella added.

But the man did not budge from his spot, standing there without a single change in his expression.

Just when Ella was convinced that Adrian wouldn’t respond, the man finally opened his mouth. "I won’t initiate."

Ella nodded slowly, "That assures me... I doubt they’ll ever take the initiative to mess with you—"

"They shouldn’t harm you," Adrian interrupted her, calmly.

Ella looked at him, stunned. "What?"

"They should not initiate anything against you."

At first, Ella was blank for a moment. Then, the depth of his words dawned on her:

If they cross you, I cross them.

She looked at him quietly for a moment. "I don’t resent my parents for anything. And this time, I’ve ended our familial ties. So, in the future, I doubt they will ever... approach me again."

When she said those words, there was a distinct sadness in her voice that she probably didn’t even notice.

However, Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Ella tucked her hair properly behind her ear before tying it in a low ponytail.

In about half an hour, the subtle aroma of various dishes filled the air.

"Try them and tell me how they are." The dining table was filled with only a few simple dishes and honestly, Ella doubted they would suit Adrian’s palate.

After all, he was very picky with food, even food prepared by the greatest chefs in the Eve Mansion.

Nevertheless, she realized that she was actually looking forward to his response.

But even after a long time, Adrian didn’t lift the spoon.

Instead, he looked at the dishes silently.

Ella’s smile faded slightly. "You don’t like anything here?"

"Come here," the man extended a hand toward her.

Bewildered, Ella got up from the chair and approached him. "What—"

In one swift move, Adrian pulled her onto his lap.

Before Ella could recover from her reverie, the man planted his chin on her neck and whispered in her ear, "Feed me."

"F-F-Feed you?" Ella blinked as she turned to face him, almost in disbelief.

Adrian quietly raised both his hands, showing off his bandages.

Ella’s eyes widened. "I almost forgot that you’re injured. Let me... Wait—"

"Mm?" Adrian lowered his long lashes as she leaned toward him.

"Didn’t you say you could carry all the bags in one hand and me in the other?" Ella paused, her eyes narrowing, "How come you’re suddenly so weak now?"

"I don’t know," Adrian responded with a straight face.

Ella narrowed her eyes at him, suspicious.

But when she looked at the bandages again, her heart softened despite herself.

’Was he always such a brat?’ she wondered as she picked up a spoon.

Sitting sideways in his lap, she began feeding him bite by bite, blowing gently on each spoonful before bringing it to his lips.

Adrian didn’t say a word. He only ate in silence, never once looking away from her.

The weight of his gaze flustered her, yet every time she shifted on his lap, he held her firmly.

Occasionally, his fingers would curl around her waist, or his chin would brush against her shoulder, sending tingles across her skin.

Ella tried her best to ignore the way her face kept heating up, but Adrian’s quiet closeness, the slight smirk playing at the corner of his lips. it was all too much.

She had considered asking him how the food was, but watching him finish his portion without hesitation, she no longer needed an answer.

After dinner, Ella tried to get up from his lap, but he pulled her back. "Sit still."

She eased back onto him, and they simply stayed like that—Ella perched on his lap, and Adrian holding her as if they’d sit there for the rest of the night.

No more words were exchanged between them. Yet as she leaned back against his chest, she had a sudden realization:

Adrian... was being clingy with her, in a way he never had before.

...

In the Kings’ Main Mansion.

"Did you track his whereabouts yet?"

A row of men knelt in front of the old man who sat on the throne chair in the center.

"The Second Master... keeps his movements under tight wraps regardless of where he goes..." One of the men trembled as he spoke. "All we know is that he went to Country A more than a week ago. But after that, we’ve been unable to contact the secretary."

"Oh?" Old Master King leaned back on the throne chair.

"No need to hold it against Ji Yan," Old Madam King entered the living room. "He must be acting under our Little Ian’s orders."

Old Master King stroked his beard. "Hmm. Then we can just find the Yu girl—"

"No!"

The old man turned to his wife. "I believe there must be a good reason behind such a strong reaction."

Old Madam sighed. "There’s no need to offend Little Ian..."

"Offend him? So what if we look for his girlfriend? He’s disappeared for weeks," Old Master King waved his hand and all the people in the room retreated, leaving the old couple alone.

"Moreover, he went to Country A before disappearing. Don’t you understand what that means?" the old man added.

Old Madam King sighed. "He probably met his mother there, but still..."

After a brief pause, she added, "If the situation was that critical, then Ji Yan wouldn’t have dared to keep it from us for this long."

Old Master King nodded. "That’s even better, wife."

The Old Lady looked at him suspiciously. Seeing the sly smile on his face, she squinted. "What are you thinking about?"

"You told me our grandson is quite protective of that little girl..."

"Don’t think about it—"

"I already did." Old Master King stroked his beard again. "Since Adrian has decided to hide, we can use this chance to bring her over. Let’s see if we can study the girl properly or if your good grandson comes running out of hiding before that."

Before Old Madam could respond, the old man had already turned and walked upstairs, seemingly pleased with himself.

...

On the other side, after their dinner, Ella took Adrian to one of the guest rooms in the condominium.

"The Master Bedroom hasn’t been cleaned properly yet. Let’s just sleep here tonight..."

And Adrian did not take much time changing and easing himself onto the bed.

At first, one might wonder if he was too exhausted or unwell.

But for some reason, Ella could see a strange glow on his face. Like... he was happy and even excited.

She stood at the edge of the bed for a few seconds, watching him.

But after a while, she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was so weird about his behavior.

The moment Ella climbed onto the other side of the bed, Adrian laid his head on her lap and closed his eyes, as if that was the most natural thing to do.

Why... was this guy so abnormally clingy today?

Not that he hadn’t done all this before. But back then, he had done it like it was his birthright. Without caring whether she wanted it or not.

But today, he was strangely... docile?

...

Mini Theatre~

*In a dark cave*

Author: Secretary Ji, don’t tell me you are kidnapping me?

Ji Yan: Be quiet and follow me. These are Second Master’s orders!

Author: What if I don’t agree?

Ji Yan: *snaps his fingers* Don’t blame me then!

*A few men pop out in the darkness, wrapping author like a dumpling before they dump her somewhere*

Author: *opens eyes* *gasps while looking at the room full of money* T-T-This... is for me?

Ji Yan: *nods smugly* The Second Master said that you are doing a good job lately. He likes the quality time with Miss Yu. If you keep going like this, there will be more of this...

Author: *drags readers and jumps into the river of money* Remember to vote, sweeties~ *eyes sparkling with dollar bills*